My long thoughts.....
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Terpy:
If a playoff system was put in place it would drastically change the schedules for all the teams. It could possibly destroy any out of conference rivalries and limit the already limited in conference schedule for many teams. In order to make room for the playoffs the teams would have to play less games in a sport where every game already nearly makes or breaks your season. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">It doesn't have necessarily have to be that way. Look at Iowa State this year. They've got a preseason game vs. FSU, plus their 12 game schedule - that's 13. If (not likely) they were to win the Big 12 North, they would play in the Big 12 Championship game - that's 14. Then they would play in a bowl game - that's 15 games. IIRC, BYU is the last team to play 15 games in a season (went 14-1 in '96). Teams in the SEC/MAC/Big 12 Championship games always play at least 13 games.
So many people complain about the up to 50 day lay-off between the end of the season and the bowl game. So many things can happen during that time (that's why so many players are ineligible for bowl games). A playoff system would eliminate that, plus it wouldn't be any longer of a schedule than a team like Iowa State could play this year.
My suggestion would by 16 team playoff system...There could also still be bowl games for the teams that didn't get in...sort of like football's version of the NIT...Say a team played the traditional 11 game schedule. It would take 4 wins to win the national championship, for a total of 15 games. If the team came out of the SEC, MAC, or Big 12, they would have to play 16.
I don't see any reason to have to back up the schedule more than one week, if that. But, teams are already playing the 3rd weekend in August now anyway (the preseason games).
Say the schedule started August 31st. With a 13 week schedule (11 games/2 off weeks), the season would last until November 23rd, which it usually does. The following weekend, November 30th, would be when the conf. championships are played.
The NCAA could give those teams a week off (the rest get 2 weeks) to prepare for the NCAA Tournament. That brings us to December 14th. The final 8 teams would play Dec. 21st, and the final four would play Dec. 28th. So, the national championship game would then be played on January 4th, the same date that it was actually played last season.
So, if they plan it out, the schedule really won't be a problem. Money and the "powers that be" are what's stopping the playoff system from happening IMO.
If this doesn't happen, at least eliminate the BCS. It has not helped one bit in it's four years of existance. In 1998, K State and UCLA choked and FSU backed into the championship game. Ohio State fans were irate. In 1999, things were pretty much decided by themselves, but the right two teams played for the title, Virginia Tech and FSU. In 2000, Oklahoma proved they belonged. FSU once again backed their way in and Miami fans were disgusted. Washington had an argument as well. If OU would have lost the Orange Bowl, there would've been a split title, defeating the whole purpose of the BCS. The same thing happened in 2001. Nebraska and Miami played in the Rose Bowl. Florida could have put the griping to rest if they took care of business. Same goes for Texas and Tennessee. None of those teams could, and Nebraska stole the spot, ahead of Oregon and Colorado. If the Huskers would've won the Rose Bowl, they, along with Oregon, would have been co-champions.
My point is the BCS hasn't helped anything. There has been controversy every year, and things have luckily played out where there could be serious gripes as far as who deserved the national championship. I say we go back to the way it's been decided for the last 70 years - by the pollsters....and THAT boys and girls, is my $0.02 on this situation.
<small>[ May 31, 2002, 02:24 AM: Message edited by: JoltinJacket ]</small>
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